Refrigerant condensing apparatus



S. .J. BEST REFRIGERANT CONDENSING APPARATUS May 26, 1936 Filed Aug. 7, i955 fierzbah i757? 51952 Patented May 26, 1936 REFRIGERANT CONDENSING APPARATUS Tex.

Application August '7, 1935, Serial No. 35,211

9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for condensing refrigerant material; and more particularly, to that type of cooling tower wherein water is used as the cooling medium.

Heretoore, sprays, fountains, and the like, have been used with air forced through the same in air conditioning and for cooling purposes. My invention, however, presents a compact, simple structure for condensing the refrigerant in the coils which eliminates the circulating pump commonly used, and the sprays which clog, and permits the compressor to deliver more refrigeration capacity with less current consumption.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide the condensing coil with uniform condensing conditions, providing a minimum head pressure in the compressor.

Another object is to provide a simple, compact structure, wherein a water tower is provided with the condensing coils submerged in water at the bottom of the tower, and with a fan and water wheel mounted on a power driven shaft so that as the fan is revolved the water wheel will lift and throw the water into the tower where the air is in position to contact the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide automatic feeding and control apparatus to inaiilntain the water in the tower at a constant Still another object is to provide bames in the tower which force the water distributed by the water wheel to spread out in thin layers so that the air can more completely cool the same, and

thus eliminate the necessity for extremely high towers now commonly used.

Other objects of my invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof pro ceeds. I

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the system;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the tower;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a perspective detail of a modified water wheel.

Referring to the drawing, in which similar parts are designated by like numerals:

Numeral 6 designates a tank or water tower in the bottom 1 of which is positioned a condenser coil 8, having an entrance pipe H leading from the compressor l2 and an exit pipe 9 connecting with the receiving tank III. A freezing coil i3 is positioned between the compressor 82 and the receiving tank It! connecting the two.

An expansion valve M is between the freezing coil l3 and the receiving tank l0.

A water entrance pipe I5 extends into the side of the tank s and has a float control valve IS in connection therewith so as to maintain a constant water level. A discharge water port I"! controlled by a manually operated valve 3 is located at one corner of the tower 5. A shelf is extends from the bottom of the tower 6 to support a motor 20 having a shaft 2! extending through the tower immediately above the water level and supported at the opposite side of the tower in a bearing 22, altho this is not essential. An opening 23' is formed in the'tower opposite the motor 20 substantially the diameter of a fan 2s mounted on the shaft 2| and positioned between the motor 20 and the opening 23. The sidewall 25 immediately opposite the lower portion of the fan 24 is inclined inwardly so as to form a directing baflie for the air forced into the tower by the fan 25, and at the same time, provide a restraining wall for the water in the bottom of the tower. One or more water wheels 26 are mounted on the shaft 2! and are rotated by the motor 20 in conjunction with the fan 26. A series of overlapping bafiles 21 are arranged in the top of the tower so that the water thrown into the air by the water wheels 26 will strike the baiiies and be thinly spread over the bailie surfaces so that the air forced into the tower by the fan as will more completely cool the same. The baflles 2! extend substantially over the entire upper surface of the tower 6. The water wheel shown in Figure 5 with the casing 28 may be used where it is desired to more definitely control the direction of sprayed water, it being only necessary to adjust the casing 28 in the desired direction.

As actually used, the tower 6 will receive water through the water e'iitrance pipe J5 until the predetermined level is reached at which time the float I6 will shut ofi the water supply through its valve mechanism. The refrigerant in the liquid state will pass from the receiving tank l0 through the expansion valve l6, thence to the refrigerant coil [3 and pass to the compressor I! in a gaseous state, and from compressor ii in a gaseous state to entrance pipe ll, through coil 8 in Figure 2, where it is changed to a liquid, passing "out through exit pipe 9 and into receiver ill. During the operation of the system, the motor 20 will rotate the shaft 2| on which are mounted the fan 24 and the water wheels 26. The water wheels 26 lift the water from'immediately above the coil 8 against the baffles 21 and at the'same time the fan 24 will force air into the tower through the.

lifted water and against the baflies 21, thus cooling the'water, which in turn falls to the bottom of the tower, condensing the refrigerant passing through the coil 8. c When desired, the tower may be located in an exposed high position such as the roof of a building, and instead of utilizing the fan the natural air current may be received through the opening 23 and in turn cool the water lifted by the water wheel.

Numerous variations may doubtless be devised by persons skilled in the art without departing from the principles of my invention. 1, therefore, desire no limitations to be imposed on my invention, except such as are indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A refrigerant condensing apparatus comprising a container, a condensing coil in the bottom of said container, a shaft extending through said container immediatelyabove said coil, water lifting means on said shaft in said container above said coil, air propelling apparatus on said shaft outside of said container, said container having an opening opposite said air propelling appara tus, means for simultaneously operating said air outside of said container, said container having an opening opposite said airpropelling appara-' tus, the side of said container below said opening inclined inwardly and upwardly to direct air from said air propelling apparatus, means for simultaneously operating said air propelling apparatus and water lifting means.

apparatus, baffles in the upper portion of said container to receive and reflect-water from said water lifting means, and means for simultaneously operating the air propelling apparatus and water lifting means.

4. A refrigerant condensing apparatus comprising a container, a condensingcoil in the bottom of said container, a shaft extending through said container immediately above said coil, water lifting means on saidshaft in said container above said coil, air propelling apparatus on said shaft outside of said container, said container having anbpening opposite said air propelling apparatus, the side of said container below said opening inclined inwardly and upwardly to direct air from said air.propelling apparatus, baffles in the upper portion of said container to receive and reflect'water from said water lifting means, and means for simultaneously operating said air propelling apparatus and water lifting means.

5. A refrigerant condensing apparatus comprising acontainer, a condensing coil in the bottom of said container having entrance and exit pipes extending through the sides of said container, float valve controlled water entrance means to maintain a predetermined water level,

a shaft extending through said container imsimultaneously operating said air propelling apparatus and water lifting means.

6. A refrigerant condensing apparatus com-- prising a container, a condensing coil in the bottom of said container having an entrance pipe above an exit pipe extending through the sides of said container, float valve controlled water entrance means to maintain a predetermined water level above said pipes, a shaft extending through said container immediately above said coil, water lifting means on said shaft in said container above said coil, air propelling apparatus on said shaft outside of said container, said container having an opening opposite said air propelling apparatus, bafiles in the upper portion of said .container to receive and reflect water from said water lifting means, and means for simultaneously operating the air propelling apparatus and water lifting means.

' ling apparatus on said shaft outside of said container, said container having an opening opposite said air propelling apparatus, means for simultaneously operating said air propelling apparatus and Water lifting means.

8. A refrigerant condensingapparatus comprising a container, a condensing coil in the bottom of said container, means for maintaining liquid in said container at a predetermined level completely covering said coil, a shaft extending through said container immediately above said coil, water lifting and air propelling apparatus mounted on said shaft, said shaft directly connected to said air propelling and water lifting apparatus, power driving means connected to said shaft'and forming a part thereof, the power driving means, shaft,'air propelling and water lifting apparatus in substantially the same horizontal plane and operating simultaneously.

9. A refrigerant condensing apparatus comprising a container, a condensing coil'in the bot- SHERIDAN JOSEPH BEST. 

